number plate lights?

[kagero]

Hi if your reading this, Ive got a '96 golf estate which just failed its mot on no. plate lights not working. I changed the bulbs, which were blown, and nothing, then I noticed the fuse was blown, so I changed this and the lights came on, great. But when I turn the car lights on, the no. plate lights go out? turn the lights off and the no. plate lights come on again!

Anyone heard of this before?

Hope so.
Cheers,
Nick.

[james butler]

could well be the switch at fault, try wiggling the wiring that joins the body of the car to the boot lid (its near the hinges of the boot. i have a spare mk3 light switch if you want it. tenner n its yours.

[fonzooorooo]

I fixed loads of electrical gremlins (lights doing what they shouldn't, rear wiper working when signalling left etc...) on the 03 polo.. there's a joint in the water pipe for the rear screen washer on the n/s of the boot with 2 miltipin connectors directly below. Connections were corroded and damp. Sealed the pipe joint, WD40 and unplug/replug a few times of the multipins, and everything was fine again.

Just a thought.

[Funky Diver]

If it helps, my fuse kept blowing for that circuit... rear wiper, number plate lights, reversing lights. Turned out to be a faulty earth off the reverse switch. Everytime I went into reverse... pop!

[Nate]

but surely number plate lights would be fused with the tail lights, not the reverse lights?

most likely causes are

- both bulbs blown (they usually only get checked once a year, unlike headlishgts)
- both bulb holders corroded
- broken wire going into tailgate

[Funky Diver]

but surely number plate lights would be fused with the tail lights, not the reverse lights?

That's what I thought.... hey ho.